Raptors Fire O’Neill, Four Ass’t Coaches

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors fired first-year coach Kevin O’Neill on Friday, a day after he questioned the team’s commitment to winning.

The Raptors finished 33-49 this season and missed the playoffs for a second straight year. Toronto also fired general manager Glen Grunwald on April 1 after a rift between O’Neill and Grunwald became public.

Team president Richard Peddie said two weeks ago that a new general manager would decide whether O’Neill would return, but the team decided not to wait.

O’Neill said Thursday the franchise is more excited about just being part of the NBA than winning.

“I can just tell you right now, the focus is not on winning here all the way through the organization all the time,” he said. “There needs to be drastic measures taken.”

The team also fired four of O’Neill’s assistant coaches.